Fishing Therapy

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

I know many members on here are just as finatic about fishing as I am, but why are we. Today's lifestyle is hectic to say the least. Between raising kids, paying the bills, keeping up at work, keeping our relationships with family and friends in good standings, and not going off the deep end is quite a daily accomplishment. Fishing to me is that release that most people need. When I am fishing, it seems all other cares are gone, at least for awhile. I am fortunate enough to have good fishable waters right behind my home/office. When things start to wear on me, guess what? I grab a pole and walk down to the water for awhile. In fact, today during lunch, I grabbed my polarized sunglasses instead of a pole and walked down to the water. Water was crystal clear today, and the bass seemd to know that I wasn't trying to cross their eyes as they were eveywhere. It reloaded my body and brain and I am ready to finish the day. I think it is important to remember why we particiapte in this sport of bass fishing.

Am I alone in this philosophy?

[Guest avid]

Wow,

I can't believe you just posted this.  My response in the "what do like best" thread includes the fact that no matter what is troubling my mind, put me out on the water bass fishing, and my troubles melt away.

Brilliant minds think alike  ;D

[Gotta Love It]

Not alone... We hit the causeway or the Gandy pier at lunch (everyday) and do a little saltwater fishing to breakup the day!  Sometimes when I get home from work and it was one of those days, I grab the rod to do a little pond fishing!  Great stress reliever!  

[Catt]

Well fishing does stop the eye twitches, the angry voices in my head, the constant staring at the full moon.

Nah it aint therapy  

[grimlin]

Fishing is the only thing that is keeping me sane....I think it's a great stress reliever as well.

Plus it's something i love doing.

[Guest hibachi]

I agree 100% with everything you said.  To me fishing is the best therapy there is.

[fishingfourfun]

Fishing take the grindout of my hectic life.  To me there is no better feeling to being out on the water.

[hi_steel_basser]

It amazes me sometimes that fishing is actually relaxing. Here I am, running down a lake, thinking about where the fish ought to be, casting as accurately as I possibly can, presenting a lure fifty different ways in twenty minutes, and thinking about the next lure selection if this doesn't work when I'm not thinking about what I should be feeling, where the next cast should go, how I need to work the lure, if I'm fishing the right zone, am I in the right spot, etc, etc. Then I stop and admire the beauty of the place for a second, and remember why I'm really there. Sure the adrenaline when the fish loads on is great, the feeling of accomplishment when I establish a pattern is unmatchable, but just being in touch with creation is all the reward I really need. That and one good THUMP.  ;D

[skillet]

 It must be a case of, to each his own. I feel pretty much the same as most of ya'll about just being on the water . I've got friends that golf and they say the same things about being on a course. (fixin' to get in trouble with the golfers :'() I have never golfed but I can imagine losing it and wrapping each an every club in the bag around a tree. They probably feel the same way about fishing...

                                                         As Ever,

                                                          Skillet

[flechero]

There are very few things that time on the water can't fix or at least help.  Even when I just need to get away from someone or need quiet time for thought or prayer.  The tranquility of the water provides just that.  Even when I'm sick, a few hours on the water always makes me feel better.  

Time on the water, even if I'm not fishing, does all of this for me.  

[Guest avid]

It amazes me sometimes that fishing is actually relaxing.

Actually, I don't find bass fishing relaxing.  I fish hard.  It's work.

But it's a labor of love.  I will have those days when the weather is just so balmy,

that just being out on the water listening to the birds and the breeze is all a man could ask for.

But mostly, I'm out there fishing hard.

I often come home feeling "beat up"

My back aches, my neck is stiff, my legs are tight, and my shoulders............well fuggedaboudit.

But therapy does not mean relaxing.

It is an activity design to relieve a condition  In my case the condition is...........

LIFE.

It can be stressful, worrisome, and yes joyful, but the bass fishing helps with the first two.

Alot.

Lord knows, I love bass fishing.

avid.

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

Avid

You are right on. I might add that 2 of my 4 kids love to fish along with my wife. My oldest daughter has begun tournament fishing with me and loves it. We actually get to spend time together and talk about life in general. No back talk, no whining, just good clean conversation. My daughter is hooked and wants to look at the professional women's circuit after college. My son, who just joined the Air Force, and I fished for about an hour last night. It wasn't said, nor needed to be, but we really enjoyed that time together. I actually set my rod down and and just talked to him while he fished. Good therapy for their old man.

[buckdawg]

Great thread!

I recently went through some life changes that made things quite hectic.  Sometimes I felt as though things were totally out of control.  and then, one day, I remembered what is like to go out and drop a line in the water.  from that moment I knew what I needed to do.  I had gone away from fishing for ten years for various reason and I needed to get back.

When I'm out it's like there's nothing else going on.  What a healthy retreat.  I try to get out every day I can and I usually take one of my kids with me.  I wish my dad had done the same.  Sometimes I catch fish, sometimes I don't.  I just like being out there and experiencing different things.  Beats sitting at home.  This time of year is particularly neat with all the ducklings and goslings swimming about.  They're a blast to watch!

[.ghoti.]

ditto

[Peter E.]

The only thing that is better than taking a break from life and fishing is sharing it with others. I love introducing people to fishing and personally, I think the world would be alot better if more people fished.

Hoover once said that fishing was one of the most personal things a man can do next to prayer. I beleive him, and to share it makes it better.

[bpm2000]

A good day of bass fishing leaves me in pain for sure!  But to wind down I like to sit on the dock and do some panfishing once in a while as well.  Both are forms of therapy.

[Trevor in Burke]

I'm glad to see i'm not the only one that feels like this, i've been saying this for the past few years that fishing is my therapy

[Needemp]

Therapy? No. Fun? Yes. To me it is a passion. Something that I work real hard at. The same as a baseball player I would imagine. After a day on the water I am beat. I am tired physical and mentally. That level of concentration and physical work wears me out. I strive to become better and better. To me, I don't consider it relaxing. HOWEVER I do find thinking about fishing very therapeutic. At work or at home I can use it to ease my mind and stress. I love thinking and talking about it when I am not doing it. That does relax me. That's one of the reasons I like this forum.

[Dan Pitre]

Some people look foward to relaxing on a beach far far away to relax I on the other hand fantasize about fishing day in and day out 'cause that is what truly keeps this Hulk at bay...

[Cigarlover 1]

Great thread! For me fishing is without a doubt therapy. I have delt with my fair share of depression episodes and anxiety attacks and for me fishing is the best therapy. Anytime I'm feeling anxious or jittery or whatever I'll head to the lake and just let it all unwind. It's wierd, as soon as I make that first cast and my lure hit the water it's like everything just slows down. I would highly recommend fishing to anyone that has problems with stress and dealing with it. Even just to go out for 30 mins is a nice refresher.